Conveying mechanism



H. M. LANE.

CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-25, 1919.

1,340,9 2 Patented' May 25, 1920.

e Q Elm-mil UNITED STATES HENRY M. LANE, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CONVEYING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed September 25, 1919. Serial No. 328,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IENRY M. LANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Conveymg Mechanism, of which the following is a spec1fication.

This invention relates to conveying mechanism and it consists of an overhead trolley for use in foundries and other industrial plants, the trolley being adapted to travel upon an overhead track and being provided with suitable work supporting means, means for elevating the work supporting means and traversing means for the trolley, an operators cage carried by the trolley capable of vertical movement, the operators cage being arranged to permit raising and lowering independent of the work supporting means; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In conveying mechanism for industrial plants, it has been found advisable to employ overhead trolleys of the monorail type which travel over the heads of the workmen and thereby save space in the arrange ment of the plant. In the first apparatus of this kind employed in industrial plants, the trolley was not provided with propelling means, but was adapted to be pushed along the track by a workman from the floor. As an improvement, trolleys provided with traversing means have lately come into use necessitating an operators cage for controlling the movement of the trolley. In a prior Patent No. 1,266,828, patented May 21, 1918,

I have described and claimed a conveying mechanism in which the work supporting means and the operators cage are supported in a framework and are vertically movable with respect to the trolley. The construction therein shown permits the operator to lower the work supporting means and his cage for the purpose of releasing the load or allowing the operator to get out of the machine.

In the present invention I have devised an improvement over the apparatus shown in my former patent. .In this apparatus, I provide independent controlling means for the work supporting means and for the operators cage. In the use of this machine it is possible for the operator to lower his cage without lowering the work supporting means, and it is also possible to lower the work holding means without lowering the operators cage. It is advantageous to have the operator ride as close as possible to the ground even after the load carried by the work supporting means has been elevated. IVith the present apparatus it is possible for the operator to fasten the load to the work supporting means, elevate it and operate the machine with the cage in the lowered position. As he approaches obstructions in his path of travel he may raise the cage to avoid such obstructions and lower it again after passing. If it is necessary for the operator to leave the machine at any time without removing the load from the load supporting means, he may do so by merely lowering the cage.

In the accompanying drawing I have diagrammatically illustrated one embodiment of this invention. In this showing, the view represents a side elevation of the trolley traveling upon a single track, part of the track and trolley frame being broken away.

Referringto the drawing, the letter A represents a monorail track adapted to be placed in a building near the roof or ceiling. The trolley consists of a machine frame -B provided with trolley frames C carrying trolley wheels D adapted to ride on the flange E of the track. A motor F, diagrammatically illustrated, is arranged upon the trolley, and is connected to one of the trolley wheels by gearing, diagrammatically illustrated, as G.

As shown, the work supporting means consists of one or more hooks H carried on cables I passing over guide rollersJ. The supporting ropes are wound on drums K carried by brackets is and arranged on a shaft connected by proper gearing tow the motor L. The motor is supported from the frame in the machine by bracket Z.

The operators cage comprises a basket M mounted in vertical guides m and capable of vertical adjustment. The basket is supported in the vertical guides by cables N which pass over guide rollers a. The cables are wound on drums O on a shaft connected by proper gearing to the shaft of a motor P carried by bracket p.

The cage may be supported directly from the frame of the trolley or, it may, as shown, be provided with independent trolley frames Q, and trolley wheels B. As shown, the cage is connected to the frame of the trolley by connecting bar S.

cage.

The various motors are controlled from the operators cage by any suitable type of' controlling mechamsm. As the specific means for controlling the motors do not form a part of the invention, except in'the combination disclosed, such means are not illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The operation of this device is as follows, When a load is to be placed'in the load supporting means, cablesl are unwound from drums K by operating the motor L. lVhen the cables have been lowered, the hooks H are secured to the load and the motor L is operated in a reversed directlon to ralse the load from the floor. The operator being in thecage M, operates motor P, and raises the By operating the motor F, the forward trolleywheel D is revolved driving the trolley along track A.

- cage at any time independent of the work The operator may raise and lower the supporting meanseby motor P. It is convenient for the operator to travel with the cage in the lowered position, and after the worksupporting means have been elevated, he may enter the cage and drive the machine by means of motor F without raising the cage." If it is necessary to raise the cage to avoid obstructions in the building, he may do so while the trolleyis in motion and independently of the work supporting means.

being adapted'to travel on said track, vertically movable work supporting means carried by the trolley frame, an operatofls cage carried'by the frame and capable of vertical movement independent of the work support ing means.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein means are provided for controlling the elevation of the work supporting means, said controlling means being arranged in the operators cage.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein mea nsare provided for controlling the elevationof the operators cage,

said controlling means being arrangedin the operators cage.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

H. LANE. 

